Rania and Elephant Sanctuary

"Is today Thursday, Nenek?" That was the question Rania was asking everyday since we told  her that we were going to take her to the Elephant Sanctuary in Kuala Gandah on Thursday 21 November 2013. She was excited and eagerly climbed into Mak Yang's car, chattering with her endless questions.

Feeding the elephant with Rania looking on.

Rania singing a Mandarin song to the elephant

Rania enjoying bathing the elephant activity

Bathing the elephant at Elephant Sanctuary. Kuala Gandah, Pahang.

The elephants show 

Maz feeding the elephant 

It took more than 2 hours to reach the Sanctuary. Nia was restless when we were watching a video show about elephant relocation and kept on asking where the elephants were. At the elephant enclosure, she was in awe looking at them. We coaxed her to feed them but she refused, preferring to watch, no matter how much Maz and I encouraged her to. Finally, Maz suggested that she sing to the elephants in her Mandarin song 'Taa Siang...' Swaying her body and gesturing with her hands she sang as loudly as she could and we were so tickled to see that one elephant responded by swaying his body too. No, she didn't want to hold out the peanut or sugar cane to the elephant, instead she just watched them wide eyed.
Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary has undergone some changes. There are still construction and renovation going on. Entry is still free, a fact that boggles my mind, knowing that to upkeep the sanctuary costs money. I don't know why the Pahang government is practicing unplaced generosity when this place can generate some income to finance it.
The elephant ride was scrap off which I am glad they do, feeding the elephant is at arm length blocked by barriers for safety reason and bathing with the elephant was not included in the activity anymore. Elephant activities are opened at 2.30pm and the sanctuary closes at 4.30 pm. I still remember a few years back when Najidah and I visited the sanctuary we were able to have up close and personal contact with 2 baby elephants at that time, Bong and Siput. Both have grown into mature elephants and I couldn't recognize them anymore.

Rania enjoying the deer at Deerland, Kuala Gandah 

Admiring the little hedgehog 

Rania in awe at the deer with horn. 

Rania and the ferret with the help of a Deerland staff. 

Rania and the rabbit 

The python looking at Rania. 

On the way back we stopped at Deerland for Rania. Entry there is RM6.00 for adult and RM3.00 for children. Feeding the deer also was done behind the barrier. Some time back adults were allowed to go into the enclosure to feed the deer which I found so thrilling. Again Rania refused to feed the deer but was fascinated watching, laughing and smiling all the time. At the small animals section she touched the hedgehog, a rabbit, a ferret and almost touched the python.
It was an exciting day for this three and a half year old delightful little girl. An outing with her is always invigorating. She is so curious and so happy. I plan to take her to see the silverleaf monkeys one of these days. I hope she will grow up loving animals and nature.